WICHITA, Kan. — Jaaron Simmons and Charles Matthews aren't the same player, but they both found themselves in the same situation after their basketball paths placed them in front of John Beilein at Michigan.

"I remember one day we came home from practice and we just looked at each other and said 'bro, we don't know any of the plays,'" said Simmons, who has spent the year rooming with Matthews in Ann Arbor. "That was just real.

Matthews doesn't deny it. After spending a year on the scout team, tossing the ball at the rim without a care in the world offensively, he was forced to learn the offense this season.

It wasn't easy.

"I came into the season, we're going over plays and the freshmen were looking at me," Matthews said. "And I was like 'y'all are going to have to look at somebody else. I don't know this stuff either.'"

Beilein's system is not for everyone and it's nearly impossible to learn in a microwave. It took Derrick Walton Jr. at least two years before he had a full command on what Michigan's head coach wants out of offensive players. Zavier Simpson entered his sophomore year this season in the same boat, trying to figure out how to stay afloat.

Matthews came to Michigan a year ago after an unproductive season at Kentucky. An athletic 6-foot-6 wing, Matthews left St. Rita in Chicago thinking he'd be a one-and-done. Then, after averaging 1.7 points and 1.6 rebounds at Kentucky, he found himself in search of a new home.

Beilein's plan made all the sense in the world. He was known for his ability to get the most out of a player with regard to skill development. He could help turn him into a pro. But Matthews had no idea what the learning curve would be like.

"I was a deer in headlights," Matthews said. "I was basically playing open gym (every day). Taking any shot I wanted, just driving."

Simmons came to Michigan after a productive year at Ohio last season. If he'd have stayed with the Bobcats, he might've been the Mid-American Conference's preseason player of the year. He was that good.

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Let's get to know Houston, the No. 6 seed in the West Region that will face No. 3 seed Michigan in the NCAA tournament on Saturday in Wichita, Kan. First off is Rob Gray, the point guard who scored 39 points, including the game-winning layup, in the win over San Diego State on Thursday.
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Houston coach Kelvin Sampson was an assistant at Michigan State the year after Magic Johnson left. Since then, he's been the head coach at Washington State, Oklahoma and Indiana.
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Houston forward Devin Davis is as close to a second option for the Cougars as they come. He averages 10.7 points and 6.2 rebounds this season. On Thursday, he had nine points and nine rebounds.
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But he was used to an offense where he was asked to do everything. Get to the basket, get in the lane, get downhill and let everyone react to what you're doing.

That's not Michigan basketball.

Simmons suddenly found himself being critiqued over everything he did. Beilein clips more film than most any coach in the country. They self-scout their own drills. If you pivot wrong, you're getting called out. Don't catch a pass with two hands, you might take a trip up the stairs to the top of Crisler.

The little things inside the little things. Everything had to be perfect.

"Passing with spin, catching the ball on two feet, different pivots. And it has to be that way every single time," Simmons said. "I hadn't heard coaches stress stuff like that in a long time."

Matthews compared some of the process to being like a third grader. If you can't walk, you can't run. If you can't run, you can't play. If you can't play, you're of no help to anything Michigan's doing.

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Michigan's Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman dribbles against Montana's Ahmaad Rorie in the second half of the first round of the NCAA tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan., Thursday, March 15, 2018.
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Michigan guard Duncan Robinson makes a layup against Montana during the second half of the first round of the NCAA tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan., Thursday, March 15, 2018.
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Michigan coach John Beilein reacts to a call in the second half of the first round of the NCAA tournament against Montana at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan., Thursday, March 15, 2018.
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Michigan's Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman makes a jump shot against Montana's Ahmaad Rorie in the second half of the first round of the NCAA tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan., Thursday, March 15, 2018.
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Michigan guard Charles Matthews tries to block a shot from Montana guard Ahmaad Rorie during the second half of the first round of the NCAA tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan., Thursday, March 15, 2018.
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Michigan guard Zavier Simpson makes a layup against Montana guard Sayeed Pridgett in the second half of the first round of the NCAA tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan., Thursday, March 15, 2018.
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Michigan forward Moritz Wagner tries to save the ball from going out of bounds during the first round of the NCAA tournament against Montana at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan., Thursday, March 15, 2018.
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Michigan's Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman makes a shot against Montana's Fabijan Krslovic in the second half of the first round of the NCAA tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan., Thursday, March 15, 2018.
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Michigan center Jon Teske blocks a shot from Montana guard Ahmaad Rorie in the second half of the first round of the NCAA tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan., Thursday, March 15, 2018.
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Michigan forward Moritz Wagner dunks against Montana in the second half of the first round of the NCAA tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan., Thursday, March 15, 2018.
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Michigan guard Charles Matthews makes a layup and gets fouled by Montana guard Sayeed Pridgett in the second half of the first round of the NCAA tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan., Thursday, March 15, 2018.
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Michigan guard Zavier Simpson dribbles against Montana in the second half of the first round of the NCAA tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan., Thursday, March 15, 2018.
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Michigan's Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman looks to pass against Montana's Michael Oguine during the first half of a first round NCAA tournament game in Wichita, Kan., Thursday, March 15, 2018.
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Montana's Jamar Akoh steals the ball from Michigan's Charles Matthews during the first half of a first round NCAA tournament game in Wichita, Kan., Thursday, March 15, 2018.
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Michigan's Jaaron Simmons makes a layup against Montana's Timmy Falls during the first half of a first round NCAA tournament game in Wichita, Kan., Thursday, March 15, 2018.
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Michigan's Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman makes a shot against Montana's Michael Oguine during the first half of a first round NCAA tournament game in Wichita, Kan., Thursday, March 15, 2018.
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Michigan's Jordan Poole attempts for a 3-point basket against Montana during the first half of a first round NCAA tournament game in Wichita, Kan., Thursday, March 15, 2018.
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Michigan guard Jaaron Simmons, left, and the rest of the Wolverines head out for warmups before the first round of the NCAA tournament against Montana at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan., Thursday, March 15, 2018.
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Now, Simmons and Matthews aren't the same player. But they did grow together and were able to lean on one another knowing that both were coming from the same position.

Matthews says the biggest change within himself over the past two years has been his ability to operate without so much emotion. He used to take everything personal. Any critique on his game felt like a direct shot and something he couldn't tolerate.

But over time, things make sense.

"You're reprogramming yourself basketball-wise," Matthews says. "So many times in practice it would just be 'huh?' But it'd be 'my bad,' and you've just got to keep moving. But once you really see how everything flows, everything's connected to one another.

"And when you understand that you become more appreciative of the way (Beilein) teaches."

Things have been bumpy for both. Simmons didn't have the type of year he expected, as he's now Simpson's backup point guard as a fifth-year senior. Matthews had plenty of ups and downs with his offensive game, from footwork to free throws to his shot in general.

Still, Thursday in Wichita, Matthews put up 20 points and 11 rebounds while Simmons came in with six crucial points off the bench after Simpson got into quick foul trouble. If either of those two were still "deer in the headlights," Michigan's season would've ended.

But they're not.

Matthews has turned himself into one of Michigan's best defenders and most active players on the glass. His offensive game still has a speed bump or two, but he was as smooth as he's been in weeks Thursday against Montana.

Simmons' college career will come full circle Saturday when Michigan plays Houston. Simmons began his career at Houston in 2013, and eventually transferred to Ohio and then Michigan. He'll be a valuable player off the bench.

Each have taken unique paths. But both continue to learn and grow together with Beilein at Michigan.

"Charles says it all the time: 'we've just got to figure it out,'" Simmons said. "When I'm done here, I know I'm going to be happy. Happy that I got to sit in this locker room as a Michigan Wolverine.